Puzzle cube assembly

ABSTRACT

A puzzle cube assembly in one embodiment includes nine puzzle cubes each including six plates each being either permanently or temporarily attached to a corresponding one of six surfaces of the puzzle cube, each plate having nine sections each with an indicium wherein any two indicia are different. Preferably, each indicium is a numeral of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. Alternatively, the indicia are represented by different shapes or colors. The plates may be magnets and the puzzle cubes may be made of metal so that they can be adhered together temporarily because of magnetic attraction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to three-dimensional puzzles, and moreparticularly to a puzzle cube assembly with improved characteristics.

2. Description of Related Art

Currently, Sudoku puzzles are popular games especially in Japan.Further, there is a variant thereof called Sudoku cube available.

There have been numerous suggestions in prior patents for puzzle cube.For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,130 to Sugden discloses a manipulablepuzzle cube which is an improvement of the classic Rubik's Cube. Thepuzzle cube consists of cubic elements connected to a centrallypositioned interior connecting element, the cubic elements of eachsurface of the cube forming a plate of cubic elements, the plate beingrotatable about a spatial axis of the cube, each of the cubic elementshaving one or more exposed faces. All of the exposed faces of a givencubic element are the same color, the color being selected from a groupof colors comprising at least two colors. The color of each cubicelement is selected so that the cubic elements form a decorative patternon each surface of the cube. The pattern may be the same on each surfaceof the cube, and may take the form of a “Y” or no “tic-tac-toe” pattern.The puzzle cube is more appealing to the eyes than the classic Rubik'sCube, and its manufacture is simplified.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,431 to Possidento discloses a rotationalcubic puzzle having 6 faces in the manner of Rubik's Cube and having anN×N array of cells on each face. Each cell of the puzzle has a numericalvalue associated with it such that when the puzzle is successfullysolved, the numerical values of any row, column or “space diagonal” willadd up to the same number.

Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of puzzle cube areconstantly being sought.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a puzzle cubeassembly which is more interesting in playing.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description taken withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of puzzlecube assembly having 9 puzzle cubes according to the invention, thepuzzle cubes being separate to form a 3×3 array;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the puzzle cubes of FIG. 1 in whichthree puzzle cubes of the same row are assembled together;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the puzzle cubes of FIG. 1 in whichthree puzzle cubes of the same column are assembled together;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the puzzle cubes of FIG. 1 beingassembled together as a unit of 3×3 array and laid on a flat surface;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 where the unit stands upright;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 where the puzzle cubes of the unitbeing arranged in another combination;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 where one of 9 surfaces of eachpuzzle cube is removed and numerals of three hidden surfaces of eachpuzzle cube are detached for viewing;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of any puzzle cube where one surfacethereof is formed as a plate which is detached from the puzzle cube butthe plate is adapted to adhere to the puzzle cube permanently;

FIG. 9 depicts 9 sections of each surface of any puzzle cube beingrepresented by “1” to “9” numerals, a first set of different shapes, anda second set of different colors;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of puzzlecube assembly according to the invention, the puzzle cube assembly beingassembled as the same one shown in FIG. 4 and being adapted to place ina square frame;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of puzzlecube assembly having 4 puzzle cubes according to the invention in whicheach puzzle cube has 4 sections on one of 6 surfaces thereof; and

FIG. 12 is another perspective view of any puzzle cube where one surfacethereof is formed as a plate which is detached from the puzzle cube andis adapted to adhere to the puzzle cube temporarily.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9 and 12, a puzzle cube assembly in accordancewith a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises 9 puzzlecubes 1 each having 6 surfaces 2. Each surface 2 is shaped as a squareplate. The plate 2 can be adhered to the surface of the puzzle cube 1permanently by applying adhesive thereto (see FIG. 8).

Alternatively, the plate 2 is a magnet and the puzzle cube 1 is made ofmetal. Hence, the plate 2 can be adhered to the surface of the puzzlecube 1 temporarily because of magnetic attraction (see FIG. 12).

The surface 2 has 9 sections 20 arranged as a 3×3 array. Each section 20is printed with a numeral (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9) 20 (seeFIG. 1 or the left side of FIG. 9). Alternatively, the section 20 may beprinted with a first set of different shapes (see the middle portion ofFIG. 9). Still alternatively, the section 20 may be printed with asecond set of different colors (see the right side of FIG. 9).

The 9 puzzle cubes 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be arranged as the one shown inFIG. 2 in which three puzzle cubes 1 of the same row of FIG. 1 areassembled together as a sub-unit. It is seen that each row of thesub-unit has 9 sections 20 each having a numeral of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8 or 9 and any two sections 20 do not have the same numeral.

Alternatively, the 9 puzzle cubes 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be arranged asthe one shown in FIG. 3 in which three puzzle cubes 1 of the same columnof FIG. 1 are assembled together as a sub-unit. It is seen that eachcolumn of the sub-unit has 9 sections 20 each having a numeral of 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and any two sections 20 do not have the samenumeral.

Alternatively, the 9 puzzle cubes 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be arranged asthe one shown in FIG. 4 in which the puzzle cubes 1 are assembledtogether as a unit of 3×3 array and are laid on a flat surface. It isseen that each row of the unit has 9 sections 20 each having a numeralof 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and any two sections 20 do not have thesame numeral.

Still alternatively, the 9 puzzle cubes 1 shown in FIG. 1 can bearranged as the one shown in FIG. 5 in which the puzzle cubes 1 areassembled together as an upright unit of 3×3 array. It is seen that eachrow of the unit has 9 sections 20 each having a numeral of 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and any two sections 20 do not have the same numeral.

Still alternatively, the 9 puzzle cubes 1 shown in FIG. 1 can bearranged as the one shown in FIG. 6 in which the puzzle cubes 1 areassembled together as an upright unit of 3×3 array. It is seen that eachrow of the unit has 9 sections 20 each having a numeral of 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and any two sections 20 do not have the same numeral.

Referring to FIG. 7 specifically, it is shown that one of 9 surfaces ofeach puzzle cube is removed and numerals 20 of three hidden surfaces ofeach puzzle cube are detached for viewing.

Referring to FIG. 10, a second preferred embodiment of puzzle cubeassembly according to the invention is shown. The puzzle cube assemblyis assembled as the same one shown in FIG. 4 and is adapted to place ina square frame 3.

Referring to FIG. 11, a third preferred embodiment of puzzle cubeassembly according to the invention is shown. Each puzzle cube 1 has 4sections arranged as 2×2 array on one of 6 surfaces thereof. Eachsection 20 has a numeral of 1, 2, 3, or 4 and any two sections 20 do nothave the same numeral.

It is envisaged by the invention that the various playing methods of thepuzzle cube assembly of the invention are more appealing to the eyesthan both the Sudoku puzzle and the Rubik's Cube.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means ofspecific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could bemade thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

1. A puzzle cube assembly comprising nine puzzle cubes each includingsix plates each being permanently attached to a corresponding one of sixsurfaces of the puzzle cube, each plate having nine sections each withan indicium wherein the indicia from each plate are different. 2-5.(canceled)
 6. A puzzle cube assembly comprising four puzzle cubes eachincluding six plates each being permanently attached to a correspondingone of six surfaces of the puzzle cube, each plate having four sectionseach with an indicium wherein the indicia from each plate are different.7-10. (canceled)